By Contributor,Discovery Global Experiences,Michele Herrmann
Copyright forbes
Inspired by FRIENDS, the Central Perk Coffeehouse will open in late fall 2025 in Times Square. Shown is a rendering of the venue, which is the second location for this brand.
Courtesy of The Central Perk Coffee Company
The fictional coffeehouse from the FRIENDS TV series is now the one that will open up a real-life shop in New York City.
In late fall 2025, the Central Perk Coffeehouse will have a brick-and-mortar location in Times Square’s northeast corner at 7th Avenue and 47th Street.
This permanent NYC spot, which is run by Discovery Global Experiences, will function like a real coffeeshop but also will replicate its set design with a large orange couch replicating this iconic piece of furniture heavily associated with the NBC show’s famous fictional characters.
It’s also the second location for the brand that is owned and operated by CenPer Holdings, LLC., a strategic partnership firm. The in-person coffeehouse was launched with a location in Boston, which opened in November 2023 on Newbury Street.
Inspired by the FRIENDS TV show, the Central Perk Coffeehouse opened in Boston in 2023. New York City will become its second location, with its debut happening there in late fall 2025.
Boston Globe via Getty Images
“When we launched the first Central Perk Coffeehouse in Boston, our goal was always to expand to New York City, a place where fans and friends alike could create their own stories in the city where the series was set,” stated Company Executive Paul Landino.
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As a fully-functioning coffee shop, the Times Square location of the Central Perk Coffeehouse will sell the brand’s six original coffee blends in ground, whole bean and compostable capsule formats.
Designed by the New York firm, Glen & Company, this coffeehouse concept was shaped with input from design and food and beverage experts.
Top Chef and James Beard Award Winner Tom Colicchio, who also advised the Boston outpost’s development, curated the FRIENDS-inspired menu. His portfolio includes the flagship Craft restaurant in New York City along with Temple Court and Vallata.
From left, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow were among the cast members of FRIENDS. They were often shown hanging out at the fictional coffeehouse, Central Perk.
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
In addition to selling beverages, the Times Square location of Central Perk Coffeehouse will have a food menu with show-related orders.
Similar to what’s offered at the Boston venue, NYC’s coffee shop menu items will extend to sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts and breakfast servings. The coffeehouse will also have tables for inside seating and will sell merchandise specific to its Times Square location.
In opening a branch in Manhattan, Peter van Roden, an executive vice president at Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, cited that bringing this attraction to Times Square is another real-life connection to the city where FRIENDS is based in.
“At the heart of that story was always Central Perk, the iconic coffeehouse and the group’s home base, set in Manhattan,” said van Roden. “ It was a place where laughter, connection, and unforgettable moments were shared…and it remains that today.”
The Central Perk Coffeehouse also produces six original coffee blends that visitors can buy in person or online.
Courtesy of The Central Perk Coffee Company
Aside from the Central Perk Coffeehouse, FRIENDS fans can see other venues in New York City associated with the hit series.
The FRIENDS Experience in Manhattan’s Flatiron District contains props and sets that visitors can interact with. The attraction is also based in other cities such as a recently-opened outpost in Las Vegas.
In Manhattan’s West Village, the exterior of a building at 90 Bedford St. is referred to as the FRIENDS apartment. The building that’s shown in clips on the series is found above the Little Owl restaurant.
Other NYC FRIENDS sights include The Plaza Hotel, where Chandler and Monica had their engagement party; Bloomingdale’s, where Rachel briefly worked; and the American Museum of Natural History, associated with Ross’ career as a paleontologist.
The physical address for the upcoming New York City location of Central Perk Coffeehouse is 20 Times Square. Visit their website for updates.
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